If you are thinking about working in defence industry, or more generally for the Australian Government, it’s likely you’ll need to access classified information. To access this classified information, you’ll need a security clearance, issued by the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA).
In this blog, we explore the process of applying for a clearance, and provide a step-by-step guide from determining if you’re eligible all the way through to maintaining a clearance when it’s been issued.
Step 1. Before You Apply
Before starting your security clearance journey, ensure that:
You are an Australian citizen.
Your background is checkable (your life history must be verifiable, including residences, employment, education).
You are prepared to demonstrate integrity, including traits like honesty, trustworthiness, maturity, resilience, and loyalty.
Your employer has indicated that they will sponsor your application as individuals cannot apply on their own.
Step 2. The Application
It all begins with a clearance request. This is where your employer, or prospective employer, will notify you and submit a clearance request to AGSVA. The request triggers the process, and AGSVA will contact you via email.
Then, you need to prepare your application submission. You’ll receive instructions to log into the myClearance portal, where you’ll complete a detailed application. This includes personal details, address and employment history, financial information, and overseas travel. You’ll also upload supporting documents.
Timeframes: you have up to 20 business days to complete the application. AGSVA aims to assess the application’s completeness within 5–10 business days of submission. (Important Note: this is NOT a decision on your clearance, it’s purely to ensure that the application has been submitted correctly).
Step 3. Background Checks
Once AGSVA have determined that the application is complete, they begin their comprehensive vetting assessment. The extent of checks varies and is based on the clearance level you are applying for. Checks can include:
Identity verification
Citizenship status
Referee checks (Note: Referee requirements vary by clearance level (up to 5 for PV).
10-year travel history
Digital footprint including social media
National Police check
Financial probity
Psychological assessment (Positive Vetting Only)
Step 4. Interviews and Questionnaires
You may be interviewed by a vetting officer to clarify or explore aspects of your application. This is the Security Assessment Interview. Further interviews and questionnaires might be necessary for higher levels of clearance.
The aim is to examine your loyalty, reliability, and suitability for access to sensitive material, so expect sensitive questions about your relationships, finances, past behaviours, political views, and more. AGSVA is trying to get a sense of who you are as a whole with the aim to mitigate past risks where possible.
Step 5. Decision Making
The assessment: A vetting officer reviews all gathered information and recommends whether to grant the clearance. This results is either:
Yay! 🍾 Clearance Grant!
If approved, you’ll receive formal confirmation of the clearance level, and your employer will be notified. Or…
Boo 😓 Clearance Denial
If denied, you will be informed of the reasons. Denials may be based on concerns that can’t be mitigated, like criminal activity or an unverifiable background. Don’t worry, if denied you do have the right to request a review of the decision. Appeal rights and processes are outlined on the AGSVA website.
Step 6. Maintaining Your Clearance
Once you’ve been granted a security clearance, it’s your responsibility to maintain it. This means you must report any changes to your personal circumstances, like relationship status, financial hardship, foreign travel, or legal trouble.
You will also be subject to periodic revalidations:
Baseline: every 15 years
NV1: every 10 years
NV2 & PV: every 7 years
So there you have it! A step-by-step guide to obtaining a baseline, NV1, NV2 or TSPV clearance. Need help or more information? Check out our other security clearance blogs, or contact AGSVA at securityclearances@defence.gov.au, call 1800 640 450, or visit www.agsva.gov.au.
Photo by Lindsay Henwood on Unsplash
